Air gauge



A. E. BjBoNsoN AMarch 27, 1928.

.AIR GAUGE Filed Aug. 11, 19.23

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE.

ADELBERT E. BRONSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DILLMANUFACTUR- ING- COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO.

AIR GAUGE.

Application led August '11, 1923. Serial No. 656,930.

The present invention relates to a gauge which is particularly adaptedfor gauging` panying drawings forming a part of this specification, inwhich Fig. 1 is a top plan' view with thecover and indicator chart re#moved. Fig. 2 is a transverse section; Fig. 3 is a partly transversesection taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 2.

In referrring to the drawings `we would note that the figures show thegauge greatly enlarged for the purpose of lclearness in the description.The preferred size of the gauge is much smaller than that which is shownin the drawings, it being'of convenient size to be put in the pocket ofthe user.

Referring to the drawings', 1 indicates a casing which is provided withabottom and side members, and is closed by atop member 2, which in thepresent instance is shown as threadedonto the ,sidey members of thecasing 1. The top member carries a glass plate 3 which is secured to thecover member 2 in any desired manner.

Adjacent one side of the casing member 1 there is an opening in whichopening there is secured a member 4 which is stationarily held in anysuitable manner. v This member 4has a recess 5 in which is located apack'- ing washer 6, the packing washer having a central opening 7.

The member 4 also has a recessed portion 8 which contains a ballmember 9`that is spring-pressedl by means of a spring 10, so that the ball formsa valve cooperating with the packing 6.

Secured to theA member 4 is a Bourdon tube 11, one end of the Bourdontube being secured to this member 4 and the open end of the Bourdon tubeis in communication with the recess 8.

The opposite end of the Bourdon tube'is closed and connected with apivoted segment gear 12, which in turn communicates with .a gear 13which is mounted to freely lil) rotate upon a central post 14, thecentral post being secured in the bottom portion of the casing 1. Y

r'llhe gear 13 has secured thereto in any desired manner an arm 15 whichhas an upstandmg finger 16. This finger lies in the path of movement ofa pointer member 17, which pointer memberl is secured to a hub 18 whichis mounted` to freely turn upon the post 14. The hub 18 is held in itsposition and prevented from upward movement by means of a cap screw 19.

The pointer member 17 has a part with an j upturned'` flangeV 20 whichyextends through a portion ofacircle, but not a complete circle, as willbe clearly seen by reference to Fig. lK1. Mounted'adjacent to the ange2() is a friction member 21, this friction member having a portion whichnormally bears against the flange 20. The friction member is engaged bymeans of a spring 22 which spring 'is fastened at one end in a post 23attached to or formed integral with the casing. They spring is providedwith a portion which is indicated at 24 which is adapted to engage withthe friction member 21. The opposite end of the spring lengages with theend of a threaded adjustment member 25 which is carried in a stationarypost 26.

By the arrangement whichV has just been described, the degree of tensionupon the friction member 21 maybe adjusted.

Surrounding the hub member 18 is a light spring 27, one end of which isfastenedto the hub 18, and the other end of which is fastened to an arm28, which arm is fastened to themember 4 by means of a screwfsucl asshown at 29. -f

The operation of the device will be clearly seen tolbe as follows: Whenthe gauge is in troduced to a valve stem of a pneumatic tire, the ball 9will engage with the p'rotruding end of the stemof thevalve insides,

depressing the same, while the packing memv ber 6i engages with theupper end of the valve stem proper, thus sealing .it against the escapeof air.

Air under theV pressure of the pneumatic tire will enter the Bourdontube 11, causing it to expand and producing a corresponding movement 'ofthe pointer member 17. This movement being positive, will overcome anyfrictional bearing of the friction member' 21 upon the flange 20, andthe degree of movement of the pointer 17 will be in accordance with themovement of the Bourdon tube, which Will in turn be in proportion to thepressure ol the air which is being gauged.

vWhen the gauge is removed from the source of pressure the Bourdon tubeWill return to its normal position but the friction member 21 willretain the pointer in that position to which it Will have moved so thatafter the gauge has been operatively connected with a valve stem, it maybe removed and taken to a convenient place for reading, thus obviatingthe necessity of reading the gauge as it is in engagement With the valvestem.

In order to release the pointer so that it may return to its zeroposition, there is a plunger 30 which is mounted to have a portionextend through an opening in the lower part of the casing, thus formingin eiect a protruding button 31 which may be depressed by a finger ofthe user. This button 31 is held in place by means of a spring 32 oneend of the spring being of yoke form and straddling the plunger 30,extending between two ianges 33 and 33a on the plunger 30, While theopposite end is fastened to the bottom of the casing.

The top of the plunger has a conical end which is adapted to engage withan eXtension 21a of the friction member 21, so that when the plunger 30is depressed it will move the friction member 21 to release its contactwith the ange 20, and thereupon the spring 27 will cause the pointer toreturn to its initial or zero position.

It will be understood that the pointer 17 cooperates With a dial whichis indicated at 34, this dial being secured inside the casing 1 in any`desired manner, and when calibrated with respect to the movement ofvthe pointer 17 Will indicate the pressure ofA the air Within apneumatic tire or other device to which the gauge is connected.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. An air gauge comprising a thintlatcasing having an opening in the bottom Wall thereof, a Bourdon tubewithin the casing having one end iixed and communicating With saidopening, an indicator movably mounted Within the casing, meansconnecting the free end of the Bourdon tube with the indicator foractuating the same, a spring pressed brake Within the casing for holdingthe pointer in that position to which it is moved in the operation ofthe Bourdon tube, and a manually operable plunger mounted in the bottomwall of the casing and engageable with the brake to release the same. Y

` 2. An air gauge comprising a. casing having an openirng,v a Bourdontube Within the casing having one end fixed and communicating with saidopening, an indicator movably mounted Within the casing, a movable armoperatively connected to the free end of the Bourdon tube and engageablewith the `indicator' to move the same in one direction, a spring actingon the indicator to move the same in the opposite direction, a brake inthe casing :tor holding the pointer in that position to Which it ismoved in the operation of the Bourdon tube, andy means for releasingsaid brake.

3. An air gauge comprising a casing having an opening, a Bourdon tubewithin the casing having one end lixcd and connnunieating with saidopening, an indicator movably mounted Within the casing, a movable armoperatively connected to the tree end of thel Bourdon tube andenga-geable with. the indicator to move the same in one direction, and aspring acting on the indicator to move the `same in the oppositedirection, and a manually releasable brake acting upon the indicator toretain the same in that position to which it is moved by the operationof the Bourdon tube.

4. An air gauge comprising a casing having an opening, a Bourdon tubeWithin the casing and mounted at its open end so that the open end is incommunication with the opening in the casing, a post stationarilymounted Within the casing, a gear member mounted upon said post, gearingmeans operated by the tree end of the Bourdon tube and co-operating withsaid gear, a movable pointer pivotally mounted upon the said postindependently of the gear, and an arm carried by the said gear engagingwith the said pointer to move the same in one direction. n

5. An air gauge comprising a casing having an opening, a Bourdon tubeWithin the casing the open end oi said Bourdon tube being incommunication with said opening, and a movable indicator mounted Withinthe casing, operative connection between the free end of the Bourdontube and said indicator to move it in one direction, resilient meansnormally moving the indicator in the opposite direction, a brakeco-operating with said pointer to hold the pointer in that. position towhich it is moved by the operation of the Bourdon tube, a spring actingon the brake to press the same into engagement with the pointer, andmeans for shitting the brake in opposition to its spring to release thepointer.

6. An air gauge comprising a casing, an opening in said casing, aBourdon tube within the casing which tube is mounted at the open endthereof so that the open end is in communication with the said openingin the casing, a pivoted indicator member Within the casing, operativeconnections between the tree end Oi the Bourdon tube and the 7. An airgauge comprising a casing, an'

opening in said casing, a Bourdon tube hav ing an open end Within thecasing said Bourdon tube being fastened at the open end so that the openend is in communication With the said opening in the casing, a postlWithin the casing, an indicator member pivotally mounted upon said post,operative connections between the free end of the Bourdon tube andtherindicator to move the same in one direction, a spring for moving theindicator in the opposite direction, a pivoted brake member associatedwith the pivoted indicator, a spring acting on the brake to hold thesame in engaging position for holding the indicator in the position towhich it is moved by the Bourdon tube, and

a manually operable plunger for releasing the brake member.

8, An air gauge comprising a casing having an opening, a Bourdon tubehaving an open end which end is mounted Within the casing and incommunication With the opening in the casing, a post mounted in thecasing, a pivoted indicator member mounted upon said post, an armadapted to engage said pointer and move it in one direction, operativeconnections between the said arm and the free end of the bourdon tube, aspring engagingsaid indicator and moving it in a direction opposite tothat in which it is moved by the said arm, a pivoted brake memberadapted to engage with a portion of the indicator and hold the indicatorin that position in which it is moved by the Bourdon tube, a depressibleplunger mounted in the casing and adapted to engage with the said brakemember to move it to releasing position. l Y

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature. i

ADELBERT E. BRONSON.

